Warning after first ‘Apple-approved’ hardcore porn app launched on iPhones

There’s been a furious reaction after the first hardcore porn app was made available on iPhones. Here is everything you need to know.

Apple has called a pornography app available for iPhones in Europe a danger to children, saying landmark digital rules there allowed it to get on to its handsets via an alternative to its App Store.

Apple had long fiercely protected the App Store as the lone gateway for digital content to get onto its popular mobile devices.

But the company loosened its grip in Europe last year, after the European Union said the terms prevented app developers from freely steering consumers to alternative ways to pay, and began allowing users to use other stores to purchase apps.

The App Store does not allow porn - but the Hot Tub app is offered on AltStore PAL, one such alternative marketplace.

AltStore billed Hot Tub as “the first Apple-approved porn app” in a post Monday on social platform X.

The app made it through an Apple review process for security and functionality. “We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids,” Apple said when asked about the app by AFP.

“Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store.”

But AltStore hit back. “Apple is claiming we made false statements about the approval of Hot Tub. This is not true,” it said in a statement posted to X.

“All apps distributed with AltStore PAL must be submitted to Apple for ‘notarisation’. Unlike macOS, iOS notarization involves a human-review process where Apple employees manually review apps before they are ‘approved’ or ‘rejected’ for distribution (in Apple’s own words).

“Unfortunately, Apple has rejected several apps from our store in the past for dubious reasons, so the phrase ‘Apple-approved’ in our marketing is a reference to the fact that Hot Tub was approved, not rejected, by Apple for notarisation.

“To be perfectly clear, Apple has not endorsed Hot Tub in any way. However, they did approve it.”

AltStore claimed Hot Tub was the first 'Apple-approved porn app'. Picture: X

Apple last year became the first ever tech firm to face accusations of breaching a new EU law known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

It promised changes to comply with the DMA – including allowing developers in the EU to use alternative app marketplaces.

AltStore PAL launched early last year as an App Store alternative in the EU, according to a blog post by its creator, Riley Testut.

“All apps are welcome, but I believe AltStore makes the most sense for smaller, indie apps that otherwise couldn’t exist due to App Store rules,” Testut said in the blog post.

“We think iOS as a whole could benefit greatly from giving developers a chance to fully explore their ideas without arbitrary restrictions.”

Apple has long fiercely protected the App Store as the lone gateway for digital content to get onto its popular mobile devices. Picture: iStock

AltStore PAL initially charged users subscriptions of $3 (AUD) annually to cover fees charged by Apple, but access became free in August after it received a grant from Epic Games, it said in a post on X.

Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite game, has battled Apple in the courts to break its hold on the App Store.

Epic and the European Commission did not immediately respond to queries from AFP.

“The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety,” Apple said of Hot Tub.

Apple said that it shared concerns about the app with the European Commission in December.

Apple has long argued that allowing “sideloading” of apps onto iPhones or iPads from places other that the App Store brings with it the risk of deceptive, dangerous and dubious digital content.

- with AFP